Positive thoughts on my life.

July 2013

07/30/2013

We have a group of friends that we enjoy but have not taken the time to visit with much. Things get busy! The days fly by. I'm lazy. A few weeks ago, we ran into one of them or something happened.....I don't really remember but we decided to get together for dinner on a Tuesday. We had so much fun that we decided to get together every Tuesday!! And rotate houses! Tonight we had dinner here. Dinner for 8! We smoked salmon and rainbow trout and it was delicious! We also turned everyone on to kale chips! They were a big hit. As was the sweet corn! I taught everyone how to butter the corn with a piece of bread! You know? Butter the bread then wrap it around the ear of corn! It's a pretty clever trick!! Gathering with friends is fun. Do you have good friends that you have been neglecting? Invite them to dinner!! On a Tuesday!! You won't regret it! There is nothing better than laughter and smiles and good food! Today was a good day!! Peace to you! :)

I bet that caught your eye, huh? We've been watching a survival show with that title.....naked and afraid. Basically, 2 people, a man and a woman, meet at some remote location and try to survive for 21 days. When they meet they have nothing.....not even clothes! Hence, the naked. They are each allowed to bring one item which is usually a knife or a fire starter thing or a pan. It's an exciting show!! One of the few I enjoy watching. Last night, I was thinking, "you know? I'm thankful I am not naked and afraid" and today? I still am! Hurray for clothes!! And honestly I have never been afraid like the people on that show have. I guess I'm thankful for that too. I think there is a certain amount of fear that is healthy and good for a soul.....it means you are living! Alive!
Hey guess what else I am thankful for?? I am signing the papers to close on my house today!! Hurray!! It's a great day!! Enjoy!!

07/26/2013

I don't know what I was thinking when I picked up this set of pajamas from the Walmarts.....except for "well! Aren't those the cutest things I've ever seen!" And "get cozy"......"get cozy"......"get cozy........" Yep. Here it is 11 am on a Friday and I'm just crawling out of bed. I need pajamas and an internal dialogue that says, "GET THE HELL UP, GIRL!" This is getting ridiculous. What have I missed today?? Tell me! Peace and love to you!!

07/24/2013

Do not try to save
the whole world
or do anything grandiose.
Instead, create
a clearing
in the dense forest
of your life
and wait there
patiently,
until the song
that is your life
falls into your own cupped hands
and you recognize and greet it.
Only then will you know
how to give yourself
to this world
so worthy of rescue.

Oh My GOD! I love this poem. Do you?? I love it so much I made a new list.

07/21/2013

Sunday was National Ice Cream Day! We celebrated with a trip to the Dairy Queen. I am thankful for that. Max drove. Aaron sat in the passenger seat and was the co-pilot. I was thankful for him being with us. I sat in the back and closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep. I am not a good passenger. I am thankful that I realize that....... and have learned to keep my mouth closed..... for the most part. I am thankful for my bed. It's comfortable. I'm thankful for a text conversation with Reggie. I've missed her. I'm thankful for sweet corn and farmer's who sell it out of their truck on the side of the road. We had that today also. It was delicious. I'm thankful for a struggling spirit that wants to be joyful. I am thankful for my bike and evening bike rides. They are pleasant. I am thankful that I found time this weekend to clean off my dresser. It was cluttered. I am thankful I finished all the laundry tonight!! I will not have to do any tomorrow. I am sick of doing laundry. I'm thankful I washed my face tonight. I alwas want to before I go to bed but usually I don't. Tonight, I am thankful I did. I am thankful I can practice self-kindness and be gentle with myself. It is not easy having zero attention span, people. Sometimes, it's just damn frustrating. I am thankful I can give myself a break. I am thankful for hope...... and reinvention.....and love which conquers all. I am thankful to be here and to be going to sleep and for dreams. I'm thankful for this day and for the saving grace of Jesus Christ. What are you thankful for?? Tell me!! Have a great day! Peace and Love!

07/20/2013

We are up at the crack of dawn, traveling to watch our baseball team play. Sam plays. Drew plays. I watch. It's tournament time. We will finish the season in one of the top three spots. It's been a fun season!! Watching this team play has been one of the best delights of my life!! Last night on the way home from a game, Sam was talking about wanting to be a pitcher next year. Aaron told him that if he really wants it he is going to have to work at it. He's gonna have to practice every day....year round. It will take effort and hard work as it does with any goal. Sam sat there and listened and nodded his head in agreement. Knowing Sam, he probably believed that he could and would do just that. But ya know? As I sat and listened to the baseball coach and the little league player, I was humbled. He didn't say anything that I haven't heard before and he didn't say anything that I don't know and believe to be true but he did say a lot that I don't apply. I set goals and don't follow through.......And then get frustrated with myself. It's silly and a lot more work than actually making an effort to achieve the goal. Does that make sense? Do you have a goal that you just think about a lot?? I have several. I'm gonna pick one and go for it. Peace.

07/19/2013

Geesh. Can't a girl catch a break? Sooooooo. Last night I was up a little later than usual and the phone rings. It's Ian. He talks a bit about his upcoming trip to Colorado then he says, "Um, what's up with your last blog?" I was all like, "I need a break. I don't have anything to say." and he was like, "You can't do that!" and I could here Season yell....."WE NEED YOU!!!" and then Ian said, "Ya. We need you to inspire us to not suck." So this is for Ian and Season........

How to not suck

The first key to not sucking is well, encourage other people. That's what you all did last night. You encouraged me and it was nice. You really encourage me all the time by lifting me up with your words and making me feel special and needed and loved.

Secondly, Don't be selfish. One of the things I love about you two is that you are always so caring of the needs of other people. You take the time to visit the people you love and more importantly the people who love you. And you are always "doing" kind things for each other. It's a blessing for me to watch.

Thirdly, you know how in the Bible it says that the most important commandment is love your neighbor as you love yourself? WEll, to not suck you really do need to learn to love yourself. That self love and acceptance is the key to loving others so ya, Do it. Smile at yourself today!! It's a good thing.

And while you are at it smile at somebody else. and be kind. Nobody wants to see a rude unhappy grump out in public.....or in private for that matter. They suck.

Count your blessings. Ian, I think you do this one better than anyone I know. You encourage me!! Where is your blog?? I would read it!

Think good thoughts. Go on an adventure. Be yourself.

How's that, my lovelies?? What would you add to the list?

OK, I have a day to sieze! Peace and love to you....and a great big smile, too!! Enjoy.

07/16/2013

Did ya ever watch that movie? Forrest Gump. You know the part where he started running and he just kept running until one day he just decided to stop? That is how I am feeling about this blog. At one point it lifted me up and made me happy. It was really a motivational force to myself to be awesome and for a long time I really talked myself into it. How fantastic is that?self love and the the things you tell yourself are very important!! It can change your life! I know!! Last night I had a dream that I wore some pretty fancy boots to a party. They were like chaps and had to be tied on and untied to go to the bathroom. In my dream, I was at this party and we were drinking. I lived in an apartment and so I was with my neighbors and a couple of gay men who were making me foo foo drinks and admiring my boots. At one point, I decided that my boots and that party were worthy enough to blog about so I asked one of the men to take some pictures and he said, "of course!" So he took out his phone and flipped it open and it turned into a huge digital camera and the party turned into a large photo shoot for a magazine. I woke up and was so disappointed that it was a dream because I really wanted to share those pictures with you......or something spectacular.....anything really. But lately? I got nothing. Not one thing. I even thought today that maybe I should do a day of gratitude.....but really I'm just not feeling it. I am numb. So! Instead of beating myself up over not having any good thoughts, I am going to take a break. And maybe someday soon I will think of something funny to tell ya....or delightful....or brilliant. Maybe I will get an epiphany!! Or take a picture that I can't wait to show you! Or start a new project that we all know I won't ever finish! Oh, the possibilities are endless! I'm excited!! Until then......you do it!! You go raise a ruckus!! It's fun!! :) ok! Peace and love to you!!

07/12/2013

I was worried I had lost it. The art of getting up and enjoying the morning. Actually I am pretty terrified of school starting and not being able to get the kids up to go. But for today, I am up and it is beautiful outside! I am going to town with Melissa. While she gets her oil changed, we are going to go eat breakfast! And to get pedicures! See? That is something to get up for. I am sure I will sleeping the afternoon away.....because that is what I do these days.....sleep.....a.lot. The good thing about sleeping is that when you are actually asleep? You can't make any mistakes! Or worry!! Just dream. And like I told you before or I think I have told you before, my dreams kick ass! So here is to a beautiful day, people!! I hope it is everything you want it to be! Peace and love to you!!

07/09/2013

I made it to the noon jazzercise class yesterday! I slept through my class again this morning but maybe I'll hit up a later class! I hope. But yesterday I did make it to that class. Me and two other women who came together. It was awkward because they didn't want to talk to anyone else. I decided the noon class is not my favorite class to go to. It's hard to blend in a crowd of 3. I worked pretty hard and after the class as I was sitting and taking off my shoes, the instructor came over to me and she said, "Shari! You have such a beautiful smile. Thank you for smiling throughout the workout. It was nice to see! Thank you so much!" That just made me smile more! What an awesome compliment and if that's all I have to do to make someone feel good well....I am all over it! I can smile! I'm doing it right now and it makes me happy! What a great way to start the day!! Ok! And now I am off to help Lauren pick out her wedding dress! This should be a fun day full of smiles.....and maybe a few tears. Peace and love to you!!! Enjoy!!